Reno, NV…The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) are grateful for two alert young brothers for helping to apprehend a Sun Valley arson suspect on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at approximately 10:27 p.m. in the 200 block of East 1st Avenue. By law, the Sheriff’s Office cannot confirm the identities of the arson suspect and/or the two Good Samaritan brothers.

On Monday, July 30, 2012 at approximately 10:27 a.m., a Detective with the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Division with the assistance from an Arson Investigator with the TMFPD charged a 15-year-old male juvenile with eight counts of 3rd Degree Arson (felony) and one count of 4th Degree Arson (felony). The arson suspect was booked into the Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center without incident.

Preliminary reports indicate there is between $10,000 to $12,000 in damage due to these spot fires (approximately 2 acres, 1 Sani-Hut, and property fencing). No accelerants were located and investigators believe these fires were ignited by merely putting a flame from a disposable lighter on extremely dry vegetation.

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection Chief, Charles A. Moore, added, “I am relieved that substantial progress has been made toward resolving this problem. The residents of Sun Valley played a large role through their watchful observations and I am grateful that no injuries or loss of personal property occurred.”

The Sheriff’s Office and the TMFPD are jointly investigating suspected arson cases and this particular investigation is ongoing. Detectives in the Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Division encourage anyone with further information on these incidents to contact their office at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or www.secretwitness.com, or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) keyword-SW.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.
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